One of Abney’s primary roles as the CSO will be overseeing the accreditation of the CSCCa’s SCCC certification process. In lockstep with those efforts will be the constant improvement and evolution of the SCCC certification itself — a certification that sets the worldwide standard for what it means to be a certified strength and conditioning professional.
Let’s continue our conversation with regards to student athlete mental health. As an integral part of the performance model, we as strength and conditioning coaches play a very important part in the mental health landscape of the student athlete. As previously discussed, it is not only our responsibility to train student athletes for the physical rigors of their sport and enhance their physical performance, but it is also our responsibility to prepare them for life’s experiences.
Disordered eating (DE) is a growing concern among all athletes, and if left untreated, can progress to a clinical eating disorder (ED) (Bonci, 2008). DE/EDs are metabolic injuries that can bench an athlete if not treated appropriately or intercepted early enough (Hynes, 2018). Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric disorders and yet many athletic departments still do not screen for these potentially life-threatening illnesses.
A low-residue diet limits high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and foods that increase colonic residue, such as milk (Vanhauwaert, 2015). And, it relies heavily on refined grains to meet carbohydrate demands while also utilizing dietary protein and fat to provide the bulk of energy without the intestinal bulk.
Mark your calendars now and please plan to attend the 2022 CSCCa National Conference. The National Conference will be held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The dates of the conference are Monday, May 2, through Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
I want to share a few “Ha Ha’s and Aha’s” while sharing with you on how we as strength coaches can impact the days and lives of our most precious entity, the student athlete.
It’s nearly impossible to describe the impact Chuck and Becky have had in over two decades serving the organization and the profession of strength and conditioning coaching. They have labored tirelessly, cared deeply and loved unconditionally. In turn, the CSCCa membership embraced them as family.
Good news! Administration has received funding for a new performance facility. Are you ready? Are you prepared to intelligently discuss design needs and desires that will successfully prepare athletes for achieving defined goals?
Pursuing higher education presents many challenges – especially for the full-time strength and conditioning coach. Choosing the right post-graduate program can go a long way towards deciding whether the experience will become a chore or an inspiration.
In light of the spotlight on mental health at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it is a great time for all of us as coaches to pause and give great consideration to the topic of mental health in collegiate athletics.
